Car truck



G. A. ANDERSON.

CAR TRUCK.

APPLlcAUoN FILED 1AN.25. 192|.

1,414,92L Patented May 2,1922.

G'lllSTA-l ARVED ANEERSQN, OF BALTMORE,

MARYLAND, ASSGNOR TO THET.

can Terroir.

anni sai.

Application ledianuary 25, 1921.

To all whom it may concer-vt.'

Be it known that l, Gns'rair invio ANDER- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Car Trucks; andl do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

rlhe invention relates to car trucks of the type, called flexibletrucks, in which the side frame members are capable of relative movementlongitudinally ofthe truck, and is m ore particularly concerned with theproduction of an improved type of flexible truck in which means are profided for resisting longitudinal displacement of either side.

frame from its normal or square position and for returning theside-frames to normal following their displacement out of square throughthe applic-ation of external forces thereto as a result of the passageof the truck around curves or over defective switch points orimperfectrail joints. n

The principal object of my invention, generally stated, is to affordcompact, simple and efficient means for-normally but yieldinglymaintaining the side frames in square relation and for returning them tosquare relation upon the cessation of the external force by which theirdisplacement from normal is induced. To this end the principal featureof the invention consists in con bining in a truck spaced side framemenibers which are relatively movable longitudinally, andA means foryieldingly resisting relative longitudinal displacement of the fra-memembers from normal position, said means involving a spring and meansfor energizing said spring upon the relative longitudinal displacementof the side frames from normal position, the said spring energizingmeans having 4infleXibly united rigid portions which are adapted toengage one of said side frame members at a plu-- rality of spaced pointson opposite sides of the center of said frame.

A further principal feature of the invention consists in employingspaced side frame members which are relatively movable longitudinally ofthe truck and which are connected by cross connecting means pivotallyattached to each of the frame members, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, i922.

Serial No. 433,811.

by combining therewith a spring which is compressible in the directionof the line yconnecting the said pivotal points and which is energizedto resist an out of square displacement ofthe side frames upon theoccurrence of such a displacement. A still further primary feature ofthe invention re-v sides in yieldingly resisting relative longi-Vtudinal displacement of the truck side frame members from normalvposition by mea-ns of a spring which is compressible from one endthereof in response to longitudinal displacements of either of said sideframe meinber in either direction from normalposition.

There are other features of invention residing in the various elementsand in combinations oi' elements as will hereinafter appear.

ln the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Figure l is av view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, ofa car truck embodying the invention, the truck bolster and bolstersprings, which may be like those commonly employed in flexible trucks,being. omitted, and the truck parts being illustrated in a position suchas they assume when the truck is passing around a curve.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in plan and partly in horizontalsection, showing the relation of one of the side framev members to themember 4by which said side frames are movably connected transversely ofthe truck and to theyieldjng means for resisting relative longitudinaldisplacement of Vthe side frame members from normal, av portion of thecross 'connecting member being broken away to disclose thesaid yieldingmeans.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2. I

v Figure i is a section on the line-4wd, Fig. 2 looking toward theadjacent side frame.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, looking toward theadjacent side fra-,me member. v

Figure 6 is a sectionV on the line 6.-(3, Fig. 2, looking away from the.adjacent side frame.

In the drawings, l indicates transversely spaced side fra-ine memberswhich are adapted to have a relative movement longitudinally of thetruck. Each side frame member is furnished at its opposite ends withjournal boxes 2 receiving -the journal ends of axles 3 upon which thetruck wheels 4.- are mounted.

The side frames 1 are movably connected across the truck by crossconnecting means 5 which may advantageously be a spring plank memberwhose opposite ends project into the centiially located bolster openings6 of the respective side frames between the columns 7 the latter. rlhesides of the spring plank 5 are spaced from the adjacent truck columns 7a sulidcient distance to afford proper clearance enabling the springplank to change its angular relation with respect to the side frameswithout binding upon the said columns when the frame members 1 aresubjected to an extended displacement from normal or square relation.rlhe truck bolster (not shown) is, as is usual in flexible trucks,suitably spaced from the truck columns 7 to permit the bolster freely tochange its angular position horizontally in response to longitudinaldisplacements of the side frame members 1. convenient means of movablyconnecting the spring plank 5 with each of the side frame members 1consists in providing each of said frame members at the center of itsbolster opening` 6 with an upwardly projecting pivot boss 8 which entersa correspondingly formed aperture 9 in the adjacent end of the springplank.

lt is preferred to employ plurality of means 10 for yieldingly resistingrelative longitudinal displacement of the side frame members 1 fromnormal position and for restoring said side frames to square relation,said means each being associated with a neighboring frame member 1 andbeing rigidly mounted upon the cross connecting means 5 in spacedrelation. Each yielding mechanism 10 preferably includes a housing 11which may be rigidly secured to the under side of the spring plank 5 bymeans of rivets 12. ll`he housing 11 is preferably provided with asingle spring pocket for receiving a transversely extending spring llwhich is .:ompressible in the direction of tle line on which the pivots8 of the truck lie. rlhe sjiuing receiving pocket or recess ispreferably open at tl e top to permit the introduction of the springwhich may be advantageouly assembled under an initial compressionoffering resistance sufficient to maintain the side frames 1 in squareunder normal operating conditions, but allowing the truck parts to yieldmomentarily to cushion and relieve abnormal shocks.

The spring 111 whose inner end is seated upon the rear wall 15 of thehousing, is adapted to be compressed by a rigid unitary operating memberor plunger 16 which reciprocates parallel to the spring plank 5 andengages the adjacent side frame member 1, The plunger 16s which entersand preferably extends entirely through the housing 11, 'may beshouldered to form an integral follower 17 which engages the outer endof the spring. T he part of the plunger which engages the adjacent sideframe 1 is formed with oppositely extending intlexibly united rigidportions or arms 18 which are adapted to engage said side frame onopposite sides of its pivot boss 6. To cause the plunger 16 toreciprocate parallel to the spring plank 5 and to prevent it fromrotating about its aXis of reciprocation, the upper end of the followerportion 17 is preferably provided with flat faces or shoulders 19, andthe stem of the plunger may be iformed at its rear end with a verticallyeX- tending` lug or otset 2O whose upper end conforms to the bottom ofthe spring plank. For a similar purpose the lower portions 21 of theplunger stem in advance of the follower 17 are arranged in Contact orsubstantially in contact with the upper surface of the horizontallyextending wall 22 with which the housing 11 is provided at its outerend, By the engagement of the under side oit the spring plank 5 with thefaces 19 of the follower 17 and with the upper end of the 'offsetprojection 20, and by the engagement of the lower faces 21 of theplunger stem with the upper surface of the wall 22 of the housing 11.,the spring operating` plunger or member 16 is prevented from rotatingupon its axis and is required to slide in parallel or substantiallyparallel relation to the spring plank 5.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sides of the inner end portion of the plunger 16stand closely adjacent to the neighboring` end wall 15 of the housin 115and shown in Fig. 5, the side walls 23 of the follower 17 are likewisedisposed closely contiguous to the neighboring` side walls of thehousing` 11. 'lhis construction affords a convenient means forpreventing` relative horizontal shifting or twist- 'ing of the plunger16 with respect to the housing 11.

lWhen the side frame members ll. are displaced longitudinally of thetruck from normal relation occurs, for example, when the truck passesaround a curve, the spring plank side frames across the truck shifts itsangular relation with respect to the frame members. rl`liis change inthe angular relation of the spring plank to the side frames results inpressure being` exerted on the plunger 16 through one of its rigid arms16, and causes the plunger to slide inwardly in the housing 11, therebycompressing the spring` 14 between the follower 17 of the plunger andthe inner end wall 15 of the housing. Upon cessation of the externalforce causing the relative longitudinal displacement of the side framemembers 1 from normal positioinl the energy stored in the spring llforces theplunger back to normal posi- 5 or means movably connecting thel.

tion, thereby causing the spring plank 5 and the side trames l to berestored to their normal position. lt the side irame is displaced in theopposite direction 'from normal position the operation is precisely thesame as heretofore described, except that pressure is delivered 'fromthe side iiramevto the plunger 16 and thence to the spring lll throughthe other arm 18 of the plunger.

lt will be apparent that instead of using a plurality ol yielding means10 for opposing displacement of the truck parts from normal relation,and for restoring` them to square position, a single yielding mechanismmay be employed for that purpose, since a horizontal angular change olithe spring planlr from its normal position results in energizing thesprings 11i' oiv both yielding mechanisms and, conversely, therestoration of the spring plank 5 to normal position by either yieldingmechanism 10, necessarily returns the side frames to square relation.

l claim 1. ln a car truck, the combination With transversely spaced sideframe members Which arc relatively movable longitudinally of the truck,of means Yfor movably connecting said side trame members across thetruck, and means tor yieldingly resisting relative longitudinaldisplacement of said side i'rame members, said last named meansinvolving a spring and unitary means oo operating with an adjacent oneof said side frame members for energizing said spring upon displacementof said adjacent frame member longitudinally in either direction fromits normal position.

2. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side iframemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally oi'I the truck, ofmeans for pivotally connecting said frame members across the truck, andmeans for yieldingly resisting relative longitudinal displacement ofsaid side 'frame members, said last named means involving a spring, andmeans cooperating with an adjacent one oli said side iframe members forenergizing said spring upon displacement of said adjacent frame memberlongitudinally in either direction from normal position, said springenergizing means having infleXibly united rigid portions adapted toengage said adjacent side frame member on opposite sides of its pivotalconnection to said cross connecting means.

In a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side tramemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally ol the truck, ofmeans for pivotally connecting said frame members, and means loryieldingly resisting relative longitudinal displacement of said framemembers from normal position, said last named means involving a springextending transversely of the truck, and means for energizing saidspring upon displacement of the adjacent side trameA memberlongitudinally in either direction :trom normal position, said springenergizing means having iniiexibly united rigid portions adapted toengage said adj acont side trame member on opposite sides of its pivotalconnection to said means by which said frame members are connected.

ln a car truck, the combination With transversely spaced side framemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofmeans for movably connecting said frame members, andy means foryieldingly resisting relative longitudinal displacement of said tramemembers from normal position, said last named means involving a spring,and means coactingy with an adjacent one of said side frame members andadapted to reciprocate transversely of the truck to energize said springupon longitudinal displacement of said adjacent side iramemember ineither direction from normal position.

5. In a car truck, the combination With transversely spaced side framemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofmeans for movably connecting said side trame members, a spring eX-tending transversely of said truck, and means interposed between saidspring and an adjacent one or" said side frame members tor energizingsaid spring upon a longitudinal displacement of said adjacent tramemember in either direction from normal position.

6. ln a car truck, the combination With transversely spaced side framemembers Which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofcross connecting means pivotally connected to'each of said side iframemembers, a spring compressible on a line connecting said pivotal points,and means for compressing said spring upon a relative longitudinaldisplacement of said Ytraine members from normal position.

7. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side framemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofmeans for movably connecting said side frame members, and meanscooperating With one of said side frame members for yieldingly resistingrelative longitudinal displacement of said frame members from normalposition, said last named means involving a single spring only which isadapted to be energized by a longitudinal movement of one of said sideframe members in either direction from its normal vposition.

8. ln a car truck, the combination With transversely spaced side framemembers Which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofcross connecting means pivotally connected to each of said side framemembers, and means for yieldingly resisting relative longitudinaldisplacement ot said iframe members from normal position, said lastnamed means involving a spring, and a plunger for energizing saidspring, said plunger being adapted to engage one of said side framemembers on opposite sides of the point oi pir-.fetal connection of saidtrame member to said cross connecting means..

9. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side tramemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally ot the truck, otmeans for movably connecting said side frame members, and means foryieldingly resisting relative longitudinal. displacement of said sideframe members from normal position, said last named means involving aspring, a reciprocating plunger adapted to energize said spring uponlongitudinal displacement ot one of said side frame members in eitherdirection from normal position, and means for preventing rotation orpsaid plunger about its axis of reciprocation.

l0. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side framemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, of aspring plank pivotally connected to each of said side Jframe members,and means mounted upon said springplank for yieldingly resisting`relative lougitudinal displacement ot said 'frame members 'from normalposition, said yielding means involving a housing secured to said springplank, a spring Within said housing, and a plunger adapted toreciprocate parallel to said spring plank and operatively interposedbetween the latter and one of said side frame members and adapted toenergize said spring upon a longitudinal displacement of said side'frame member in either direction from its normal position.

ll. ln a car truck, the combination with teiliger;

transversely spaced side `trame' members which are relatively7 movablelongitudinally of the truck, ot means 'for movably connecting said sideframe members, and means for yieldingly resisting relative longitudinaldisplacement of said frame members from normal position, said last namedmeans involving a spring which is compressible from one end thereof inresponse to longitudinal displacements or one of said side frame membersin either direction from its normal position.

l2. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely7 spaced side framemembers which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, oimeans for mo'vaoly connecting said side trame membersj and means forresisting relative longitudinal displacement of said side iframe members'from normal position, said last named means involving a spring, andareciprocating plunger for energizing said saring, said plunger having astem and being adapted to engage one of said side frame members at aplurality ot spaced points on opposite sides ot the center of said framemember and being provided with means for actuating said spring andhaving a. portion adapted slidably to engage said connecting means.

13. ln a car truck, the combination with transversely spaced side framemembers Which are relatively movable longitudinally of the truck, ofcross connecting means pivotally connected to each ot said side members9a spring compressible transversely oi the truck, and means forcompressing said spring upon the relative longitudinal displacement ofsaid side trame members from normal position.

ln testimony whereof l atliX my signature.

GUSTAF ARVD ANDERSON.

